Period: From June 2025      Issued on 11.06.2025 using data to the end of May 2025

Rainfall: 

May rainfall was above average in parts of northwest England and western Scotland, but it was a dry month elsewhere, particularly across southern England. The spring as a whole was exceptionally dry across most of the UK. The forecast (issued by Met Office on 27.05.2025) indicates the chance of a wet June is slightly higher than normal, with the start of June especially likely to be wet. The chances of a wet or a dry summer (June - August) are evenly balanced.

River flows:

River flows in May were in the normal range in some western catchments, but below normal across most of the UK – with notably or exceptionally low flows (including many new record May minimum flows) across eastern Britain, central England and south Wales. The outlook for June is for normal to above normal flows in northwest Britain, reflecting late May/early June rainfall. Elsewhere, below normal to low flows are the most likely outcome, with notably or exceptionally low flows likely to persist in some catchments. The June - August outlook is for a similar geographical contrast, but with normal flows most likely in the northwest and below normal to low flows elsewhere, again with some catchments likely to be significantly below normal.

Groundwater:

Groundwater levels in May were largely in the normal range or below normal across the UK, with below normal levels concentrated in the Chalk of central southern England and northeast England. Levels were above normal in a few boreholes in central England. The outlook for June is for normal to below normal levels across most of the country, with notably low levels likely to persist in some areas. Localised above normal levels are possible in some areas (e.g. the Chilterns). For June - August, normal to below normal levels are the most likely outcome across all aquifers.